There are a lot of eSIM options out there these days, and honestly, it can be hard to tell which ones actually work well when you’re traveling. Some look great on paper but turn out to be unreliable once you’re on the road.
During my recent trip through the UK and Ireland, I decided to try out Saily’s new Ultra plan to see how it performs in real life. I spent about a week bouncing back and forth between both countries, crossing borders multiple times, and wanted to see if one eSIM could handle it all without me having to switch or lose connection.
In this article, I’m going to share my experience using Saily Ultra, including what worked well, what didn’t, and whether it’s worth using for your own trip to the UK and Ireland.
What Is Saily Ultra?
Saily Ultra is the top-tier plan from Saily, an eSIM provider from the same group behind NordVPN. They’ve been offering eSIM services for some time now. I first tested Saily about a year ago in Thailand, shortly after it launched. Back then, the connection wasn’t very stable and the setup process could have been smoother.
I decided to give it another try on this trip after seeing a lot of positive reviews from other travelers. This time, I used their Ultra plan, which is their top-tier option designed for people who travel between multiple countries and don’t want to deal with switching eSIMs every time.
Unlike most eSIMs that sell country-specific or regional plans, Saily Ultra is a multi-country plan that works in over 100 destinations. It gives you 30 GB of full-speed data per month, and once you hit that limit, you still get unlimited data at reduced speed.
It costs a bit more than local or regional options, but the main benefit is convenience. You can travel freely without worrying about coverage gaps or having to buy a new plan in every country.
Pros and Cons
Here’s a quick list of pros and cons for Saily Ultra based on my experience.
Pros
- Works seamlessly between the UK and Ireland without needing to switch networks
- Easy setup and activation
- Generous daily cap (5 GB of high-speed data per day)
- IP selection feature is handy for geo-restricted sites
- Built-in ad blocker and protection features
- Good stability and connection strength throughout the trip
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than country-specific eSIMs
- No voice or SMS, data only
- After you hit the daily cap, speeds are reduced
- You need to turn on roaming manually before it works
Setting Up
Setting up the Saily eSIM was straightforward and similar to most other eSIM providers. You just install the Saily app on your phone, and installation only takes a few minutes.
When I first installed the eSIM, it didn’t work right away, and I couldn’t figure out why. It turned out I had forgotten to turn on roaming for the new eSIM. Once I enabled it, everything connected instantly. It’s a small step, but if you’re setting it up while traveling, it’s easy to overlook.
Seamless Connection Between the UK and Ireland
One of the best parts about using Saily Ultra was how well it handled cross-border travel. During this trip, I went back and forth between Ireland and the UK several times. It was actually a networking trip with other travel bloggers, and a few of them lost connection as soon as we crossed the border since their eSIMs only worked in one country.
Meanwhile, my Saily connection stayed active the entire time. I never had to switch networks or worry about losing signal, which made the journey much smoother.
If your itinerary includes both the UK and Ireland, this feature alone makes it worth considering.
Internet Speed and Daily Cap
Their “unlimited” plan comes with a daily high-speed cap of 5 GB, which is more than double what I’ve seen from Airalo or GigSky. After that, speeds slow down, but 5 GB per day is plenty for most travelers. I didn’t run a formal speed test this time, but the connection worked well throughout my trip.
I used it for navigation, social media, and even video streaming, and never had any connection issues or moments where it felt restrictive.
Built-In IP Country Selection
Saily also lets you set the country of your source IP, which basically works like a built-in VPN. I didn’t expect to use it much, but it came in handy when visiting certain U.S. websites (like insurance or shopping sites) that don’t allow foreign IPs.
It’s a small but useful feature that saves you from having to run a separate VPN.
Ad Blockers and Security Features
They also include built-in ad blocking and malicious domain protection. I didn’t test these in detail, but it’s nice to know they exist.
Comparing It with My Regular Carrier
In the U.S., I normally use U.S. Mobile, which includes 1 GB of international data for free. It’s great for short trips, but that 1 GB doesn’t last long anymore. For longer trips or multi-country travel, something like Saily Ultra just makes more sense.
Plans and Pricing
Saily offers a range of local and global plans, but the Ultra plan is the one that covers both the UK and Ireland under a single subscription.
Ultra Plan – US$59.99 per month
- 30 GB of high-speed data
- Unlimited data afterward at slower speeds
- Works in 100+ countries, including the UK and Ireland
If you’re staying in just one country, Saily’s local plans are cheaper:
- UK 10 GB plan – US$19.99 for 30 days
- Ireland 10 GB plan – US$19.99 for 30 days
- Unlimited UK/Ireland plan – US$48.99 (with fair usage policy)
If you move between countries often, the Ultra plan makes more sense because you don’t have to buy multiple eSIMs or switch networks during your trip.
Should You Use Saily Ultra?
For me, Saily Ultra worked smoothly and did exactly what I needed. It was reliable, fast, and incredibly convenient across both the UK and Ireland.
You should consider Saily Ultra if:
- You travel frequently between the UK and Ireland or plan to visit multiple countries
- You want a set-and-forget eSIM with good coverage and stable performance
- You’re a heavy data user who values convenience more than saving a few dollars
However, if you’re only staying in one country or need a more budget-friendly option, one of Saily’s smaller local plans or a local carrier’s prepaid SIM will probably be enough.
You can use this link to buy it.
